For over a month, Nancy Guthrie trended across social media platforms. Actually, some folks question why, of all the true crimes out there, the focus mainly sits on Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom. Well, there are some very good reasons, and some of them teach some valuable lessons. Read on for more details.
People Question So Much Coverage
You’ve probably seen people on social media questioning why so much coverage comes along. In fact, some folks seem angry about it, claiming it’s all because Savannah Guthrie’s a celebrity. Notably, they may have a point.
Meanwhile, others slam some very respected podcasters for “clickbait.” And, that could also be true to some extent. Then, that’s backed up by those dodgy Facebook posts showing claims that a body was found. But, that’s not the only reason why news media still cover the unresolved missing person story.
Why Cover The Story For Many Weeks?
The media aren’t just there to deliver the news these days. Most of them rely on advertising, clicks, engagement, and that sort of thing. So, if nobody’s doing that, the story might fade away fairly quickly. And that relates to everyone, not just celebrities.
The reason why people engage could be something that Brian Entin identified on his Brian Entin Investigates channel this week. Brian suggested that the story’s long-lasting run comes because to many people, she’s a figure who seems like their own parents or grandparents. In other words, the Nancy Guthrie story takes on a personal connection.
Keeping Your Relative Safe
As people in his circle talked about it, Entin chatted with retired FBI agent Maureen O’Connell. There, they discussed ways that people like you and me can safeguard our own family members. Apart from her experience as a fed, O’Connell runs a business that gives advice on safety and security.
She noted that concern for the elderly seems very much in focus right now. Plus, loads of folks seem to be going “the extra mile for the older people in their communities.” Part of that could be a result of “love and respect for Nancy and what her family’s going through.”
Home Security Tips
When it comes to home security, O’Connell explained that you don’t need a Hollywood-style security system to make a difference. She recommends PTZ cameras, which stands for point, tilt, and zoom, because one well-placed camera can cover multiple sides of a house, making it a cost-effective option.
The goal, she said, “is to be able to sit in your home and use your phone.” In other words, “if you hear a noise,” then you can see what the threat might be. “Like don’t open the door, don’t go to the window. Have enough coverage with your cameras where you can just see what the threat is from the comfort of your own room.”
Additionally, you need to think about cloud storage. O’Connell stressed that “you also have to have some kind of way to store the footage because it’s not going to help anybody if you just see some footage and then you don’t have anything to show police.”
Remember in the case of Nancy Guthrie, it took big tech and the FBI to recover some footage from the NEST camera. And that proved that evidence is useless if you can’t share it with police.
Close Those Windows
Next, O’Connell also warned about a common blind spot, noting that “most people don’t realize that a lot of offenders get in through the bathroom window.” She pointed out that “most people, if you have a window in your bathroom, you always leave it unlocked.”
She added that most people say, “No one can get through my bathroom window.” However, in life, many of them can and do. For example, “just look at any type of movie about prison escapes. They’re getting through tiny little holes. It’s insane.” So, she said that all windows should be locked and secured every single night.
Caregivers & Keys
On the topic of vetting and monitoring caregivers, O’Connell noted that having a consistent person coming in seems important. Plus, she also cautioned folks against ever giving any caregiver a key to the home.
In fact, rather than physical keys, which are easily duplicated, she recommended you use a keypad with a unique entry code for each caregiver. “Every time they go in and then when they leave you can tell.” Plus, it give folks a handy log of their comings and goings.
Another advantage is that if they leave, then it’s easy to “delete” their code so it can’t be used again.
Friends & Family Visits
Next up are recommendations about family and friends. While people complain about the fact that Nancy Guthrie seemed alone way too much, word arrived that Annie Guthrie kept an eye on her. Well, that’s a good thing.
O’Connell recommended that families “definitely pop in or have neighbors or members of the church pop in whenever they want to. So that whoever is in there knows that there’s a good chance someone might just drop by.”
Getting your family or friends to pop in and see your elderly loved one might throw off true crime suspects. After all, there’s nothing like routine as a layer of added information for a criminal.
Folks In Cognitive Decline
The conversation also covered those elderly folks who aren’t cognitive. In that case, it’s a great idea to install internal cameras as well. O’Connell recommended placing them “in the front room or wherever you keep the checkbook or the credit cards or anything like that.”
Later, they talked about privacy and anti-scamming protection. But that’s a whole different ball game for another article.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree that Nancy’s story still finds engagement because most people have a parent or an elderly relative? Does that make them relate to the story much more than others?
Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates. Plus, you can check out our crime channel on TikTok for other news.